Tuning current rectification across molecular junctions

Kushmerick, James G.; Whitaker, Craig; Pollack, Steven K.; Schull, Terence L.; Shashidhar, R.

doi:10.1088/0957-4484/15/7/058

Cited by 80 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…As expected from the symmetric nature of the molecular junctions, the measured I-V characteristics are symmetric with respect to bias voltage polarity (34). The symmetry of the I-V characteristics demonstrates that the Au-S contacts at either end of the molecules are chemically similar (40).…”

Section: Molecular Junction Measurementssupporting

confidence: 64%

Probing π-coupling in molecular junctions

Seferos

Trammell

Bazan

et al. 2005

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Charge transport characteristics for metal-molecule-metal junctions containing two structurally related -conjugated systems were studied to probe -interactions in molecular junctions. The first molecule contains a typical -conjugated framework derived from phenylene vinylene units, whereas the second has the phenylene vinylene structure interrupted by a [2.2]paracyclophane (pCp) core. Electrochemical investigations were used to characterize the defects and packing density of self-assembled monolayers of the two molecules on gold surfaces and to enable quantitative comparison of their transport characteristics. Current-voltage measurements across molecular junctions containing the two species demonstrate that the pCp moiety yields a highly conductive break in through-bond -conjugation. The observed high conductivity is consistent with density functional theory calculations, which demonstrate strong through-space -coupling across the pCp moiety.charge transport ͉ molecular electronics ͉ surface science

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Section: Molecular Junction Measurementssupporting

confidence: 64%

Probing π-coupling in molecular junctions

Seferos

Trammell

Bazan

et al. 2005

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…The shape of the electrostatic potential profile in a molecular junction has been thoroughly investigated theoretically [33][34][35][36][37] but has not been measured directly due to technical limitations. As discussed above, Z V parameterises the electrostatic potential profile within the molecule on which R directly depends, among other factors (for example, level broadening, intrinsic coupling asymmetries, and so on).…”

Section: Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Controlling the direction of rectification in a molecular diode

et al. 2015

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A challenge in molecular electronics is to control the strength of the molecule-electrode coupling to optimize device performance. Here we show that non-covalent contacts between the active molecular component (in this case, ferrocenyl of a ferrocenyl-alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM)) and the electrodes allow for robust coupling with minimal energy broadening of the molecular level, precisely what is required to maximize the rectification ratio of a molecular diode. In contrast, strong chemisorbed contacts through the ferrocenyl result in large energy broadening, leakage currents and poor device performance. By gradually shifting the ferrocenyl from the top to the bottom of the SAM, we map the shape of the electrostatic potential profile across the molecules and we are able to control the direction of rectification by tuning the ferrocenyl-electrode coupling parameters. Our demonstrated control of the molecule-electrode coupling is important for rational design of materials that rely on charge transport across organic-inorganic interfaces.

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“…During recent years a number of different experiments have been described demonstrating strong nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of single organic molecules attached to nanoelectrodes [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. These nonlinear I-V characteristics are connected with such specific effects like current rectification and negative resistance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinetic control of the current through a single molecule

et al. 2006

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A unified description is put forward for the electron transmission through a molecule that is attached to two leads with the molecule being characterized by a single level to be populated by the transferred electrons. In deriving the expression for the current the Coulomb interaction is accounted for between the two extra electrons that may occupy the molecular level. The formation of two distinct transmission channels associated with the neutral and the singly charged molecule can directly be related to this interaction. Moreover, each transmission channel comprises a sequential as well as a direct (tunneling) pathway. The first pathway is realized via hopping transitions between the molecule and the neighboring electrodes. Just this inelastic kinetic process is responsible for the kinetic charging of the molecule. Then, the second pathway takes place against the background of kinetic molecular charging. In particular, it is demonstrated that hopping transmissions which are asymmetric with respect to the two electrodes cause a kinetic current rectification. The transient population of the molecule, realized by the transferred electrons, determines the rectification; the latter becomes rather large for resonant transmission.

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Tuning current rectification across molecular junctions

Cited by 80 publications

References 35 publications

Probing π-coupling in molecular junctions

Probing π-coupling in molecular junctions

Controlling the direction of rectification in a molecular diode

Kinetic control of the current through a single molecule

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